Farm Educator I
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Job Location:
Chicago, IL - USA
Monthly Salary:
Not Disclosed
Posted on:
16 days ago
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Job Summary
This position entails day-to-day farm and site maintenance harvesting and
processing of produce daily training of all Production Assistants (participants in
our transitional job program) and record keeping/farm data entry. The Farm
Educator I reports to the Director of Urban Farms. All farm site workflows and
work with Production Assistants are additionally managed and supervised by the
Farm and Program Coordinator.
Growing Home operates USDA-certified organic farms that produce 35000
pounds of vegetables and herbs annually. We use our farms as a platform for our
12- week job training program serving up to 80 individuals facing barriers to
employment on an annual basis and as a source for affordable healthy produce in
the Englewood neighborhood.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Farm Production:
- Bed preparation transplant production transplanting direct seeding
Cultivation of planted beds irrigating weeding fertilizing trellising
thinning pruning - Harvesting processing and packing produce
- Product deliveries and supply runs as needed
- Maintaining quality sanitation and freshness standards
- Record keeping and farm data entry support
- Basic carpentry and repair work; examples include irrigation line installation and repair fabricating trellises repairing raised beds
- Assist with food distribution and farmers markets and Growing Home events which includes some weekends
- Treat all customers respectfully and courteously
- Take part in a weekend watering rotation during spring months (split among staff)
- Assist with snow removal in the winter and other general site maintenance tasks to keep the farm as a presentable educational space
- Other duties as assigned
Production Assistant Training:
- Provides direction to Production Assistant working groups (crews of up to
10 PAs) during morning and afternoon work periods with assistance from more experienced Farm Team members - Take responsibility for group work performance and outcomes of work crews under their direction
- Conduct farm-skills training for Production Assistants and consistently review skills as needed in the field
- Ensure that Production Assistants are courteous and helpful to all those on-site immediately addressing and correcting problems
- Model and demonstrate excellent communication skills with other staff and participants especially under challenging conditions
- Communicate any notable issues and/or successes to supervisors as needed
- When needed transport Growing Home Production Assistants using a company vehicle
- Participate in program-related activities such as workflow meetings; staff and departmental meetings
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- At least one season of farming experience organic preferred
- At least one year removed from Growing Homes employment training program
- Experience working on a team
- Ability to connect with a variety of audiences
- Positive attitude
- Great communicator
- Detail-oriented dependable and punctual
- Attention to quality control
- Valid Illinois Drivers License strongly preferred
Additional Info:
Growing Home offers competitive compensation packages based on experience.
All compensation packages include health insurance coverage and generous
vacation benefits.
All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race
color creed national origin sex age disability marital status sexual orientation
gender identity military status current employment status or prior record of
arrest or conviction.
Required Experience:
Junior IC
Key Skills
- Early Childhood Education
- Algebra
- Classroom Experience
- Lesson Planning
- Special Education
- Adult Education
- Special Needs
- Calculus
- Teaching
- Geometry
- Experience with Children
- Public Speaking
About Company
Growing Home supports healthy people & communities through our urban farm and job training program. Everyone deserves to have a good job and to eat well.
